Symphonic Essentials

About this playlist

From stirring openings to flourishing finales and all the beautiful themes in between, this list will guide you through the evolution of the symphony from its beginnings in 18th Century Germany through to today. Drawing on themes as diverse as love and war, and inspired by everything from travel to grief, the symphony is an enduringly fascinating musical form.

Tracklist

Mozart: Symphony No.40 in G minor

Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550: I. Molto allegro

Sir Roger Norrington

6:56

Beethoven: Symphony No.6 in F major

Symphony No. 6 in F, Op.68 'Pastoral': V. Allegretto (Shepherds' Song. Happy and thankful feelings after the storm)

London Philharmonic Orchestra/Klaus Tennstedt

9:34

Dvořák: Symphony No.9 in E minor

4. Allegro con fuoco

Czech Philharmonic, Jiri Belohlavek

11:53

Haydn: Symphony No.94 in G major

II. Andante

Heidelberger Sinfoniker

6:57

Sibelius: Symphony No.5 in E-flat major

III. Allegro molto - Largamente assai

Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra

9:51

Beethoven: Symphony No.7 in A major

Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92: II. Allegretto

Sir Simon Rattle

8:25

Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique

Symphonie Fantastique, Op.14: II. Un bal

London Symphony Orchestra and Sir Colin Davis

6:36

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.4 in F minor

4. Finale (Allegro con fuoco)

Los Angeles Philharmonic, Zubin Mehta

8:38

Schubert: Symphony No.8 in B minor

I. Allegro moderato

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

13:31

Elgar: Symphony No.2 in Eb major

1. Allegro vivace e nobilmente

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras

16:13

Beethoven: Symphony No.5 in C minor

1. Allegro con brio

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bernard Haitink

7:07

Mahler: Symphony No.5 In C-Sharp Minor

4. Adagietto (Sehr langsam)

Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, Gustavo Dudamel

10:46

Schubert: Symphony No.5 in B-flat major

4. Allegro vivace

Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta

5:37

Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor

IV. Allegro energico e passionato - Più allegro

London Philharmonic Orchestra

10:20

Shostakovich: Symphony No.5 in D minor

II. Allegretto

Philharmonia Orchestra

5:28

Mendelssohn: Symphony No.3 in A minor

II. Vivace non troppo

Freiburger Barockorchester and Pablo Heras-Casado

4:29

Price: Symphony No. 4 in D minor

I. Tempo moderato

Fort Smith Symphony

15:10

Schubert: Symphony No.9 in C major

3. Scherzo (Allegro vivace)

San Francisco Symphony, Herbert Blomstedt

13:54

Mahler: Symphony No.2 in C minor

V. Im Tempo des Scherzos. Wild herausfahrend - Wieder zurückhaltend - Langsam. Misterioso

Ruby Hughes

34:08

Górecki: Symphony No.3

Symphony No 3 op. 36 Lento e largo - Tranquilissimo

Baden-Baden Symphony Orchestra

8:51

Mozart: Symphony No.41 in C major

I. Allegro vivace

Seiji Ozawa

11:31

Brahms: Symphony No. 3 in F major

III. Poco allegretto

Chamber Orchestra of Europe

6:00

Beethoven: Symphony No.9 in D minor

4. Presto - Allegro assai

Berliner Philharmoniker, Ferenc Fricsay, Irmgard Seefried, Maureen Forrester, Ernst Haefliger, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Chor der St. Hedwig's-Kathedrale, Berlin

17:00

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6 in B minor

Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 74 "Pathétique": II. Allegro con grazia

Berliner Philharmoniker and Kirill Petrenko

7:38

Prokofiev: Symphony No.5 in B-flat major

4. Allegro giocoso

Berliner Philharmoniker, Seiji Ozawa

9:48

Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C minor

1. Un poco sostenuto - Allegro - Meno allegro

The Cleveland Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy

16:12

Bruckner: Symphony No.7 in E major

II. Adagio. Sehr feierlich und sehr langsam

Kent Nagano

21:55

Shostakovich: Symphony No.10 in E minor

II. Allegro

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

4:09

Prokofiev: Symphony No.1 in D major

III. Gavotta: Non troppo allegro

Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo

1:26

Mahler: Symphony No.9 in D major

Symphony No. 9: IV. Adagio. Sehr langsam und noch zurückhaltend

Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Daniel Harding

26:23

Sibelius: Symphony No.2 in D major

Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43: I. Allegretto

Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra/Mariss Jansons

9:10

Copland: Symphony No.3

IV. Molto deliberato (Freely, at First)

Detroit Symphony Orchestra

14:54

Farrenc: Symphonie No.3 in G minor

III. Scherzo. Vivace

Solistes Européens, Luxembourg

7:34

Mahler: Symphony No.1 in D major

I. Langsam, schleppend

Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra

16:55

Saint-Saëns: Symphony No.3 in C minor

3. Maestoso - Allegro

Gaston Litaize, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim

7:28

Curated by

Mary Elizabeth Kelly

Primephonic Curator

About this playlist

From stirring openings to flourishing finales and all the beautiful themes in between, this list will guide you through the evolution of the symphony from its beginnings in 18th Century Germany through to today. Drawing on themes as diverse as love and war, and inspired by everything from travel to grief, the symphony is an enduringly fascinating musical form.

Curated by

Mary Elizabeth Kelly

Primephonic Curator

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